About BNP
This gene is a member of the natriuretic peptide family and encodes a secreted protein which functions as a cardiac hormone. The protein undergoes two cleavage events, one within the cell and a second after secretion into the blood. The protein's biological actions include natriuresis, diuresis, vasorelaxation, inhibition of renin and aldosterone secretion, and a key role in cardiovascular homeostasis. A high concentration of this protein in the bloodstream is indicative of heart failure. The presence of myocardial injury is a significant predictor of mortality in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, and there is evidence of increased levels of natriuretic peptide B in hospitalized non-survivor COVID-19 patients. The protein also acts as an antimicrobial peptide with antibacterial and antifungal activity. Mutations in this gene have been associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2020]

About Alexa Fluor 647
Alexa Fluor™ 647 (AF647, Alexa 647) has an excitation peak at 650 nm and an emission peak at 665 nm, and is spectrally similar to Cy®5 (GE Healthcare), iFluor® 647 (ATT Bioquest), and DyLight™ 650 (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Alexa 647 is commonly used for flow cytometry, microscopy, super-resolution microscopy applications. It is very bright, photostable, and pH insensitive, all of which contribute to sensitive detection while using this dye.